Judges 9:9
“But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?”
Israel was at an unstable time in their history. Abimelech violently took the throne of Israel by killing all of his brethren but one. The one brother, Jotham, after hearing of his brethren who were slain, went to the top of a hill and in an allegorical speech show Israel their foolishness in following Abimelech. Inside of this allegory is a hidden truth that can be applied to many areas of your life.
He spoke about a forest that wanted a king. The trees went to three different trees to ask them to become king, but in each instance the trees responded by saying their job was more important than having a title to become king. Yet, when the trees went to the bramble, a thorn bush, and asked it to become king, it quickly took the position. It is very interesting that the olive tree, the fig tree and the vine each understood the importance of what God made them to do, and to them that was the most important job. Yet, the bramble, a result of sin, was quick to leave its work to take a higher position. These stories carry an important principle that every Christian needs to apply in every area of their lives.
First, your job is important to God. Notice that the olive tree knew that his fruit honored “God and man.” Whatever you do for the LORD is important to God. You must understand that every time you perform the task God has given you to do that you are honoring God. Your task may seem unimportant in the whole scope of a project, but every job is important to God.
Second, you should see your job as important. The olive tree understood the importance of doing everything first class. Never give a second-rate effort when doing something for God. You must always perform your task with excellence. Always remember that the enemy of excellence is best. The mentality that you did your best must not be accepted if you want God to be honored. You must take the mentality that nothing short of excellence is acceptable when doing something for God. God is a God of excellence, and He will help you to perform excellence if you will ask Him for His help.
Third, don’t leave your task for the inferior. Being the king of the forest didn’t mean much to the olive tree, because its position was the highest position. Understanding the role of what God has called you to do is vital to being all that God wants you to be. If God called you to do something and something of higher position comes your way that is not what God wants you to do. In that case, the higher position is actually a lower position for you. The highest position you can achieve is doing exactly what God wants you to do. Don’t leave what you are supposed to do for the inferior. There are things that may not be bad in and of themselves, but if they sidetrack you from what God has called you to do, then they become bad because they take you away from what you were made to do. Always remember the task God’s called you to do is the highest calling you can do even if it is not the highest position of authority.
Friend, let this devotional compel you to do your job with excellence. Never settle for anything less than what God wants you to do. Remember that God made you for a specific task, and that you are honoring God as long as you are doing that task and doing it with excellence.